Background

We are formally launching a Youth Commission at ECMN's convention this fall (Sept 14-15). Over the past five years we have seen significant growth in collaborative youth programs across our faith communities such as: EKID, SINC, ECAD, EYMC, Pre-TEC, and MN TEC. During this upcoming 2018-2019 program year it seems like the appropriate time to empower a group of young people to be the voices of their continued development. These students are the ones attending these events and building their own beloved communities within them.

This formal youth commission is being launched following, as the Bishop coined it, the "monumental work" of the preliminary youth commission during the 2017-2018 program year. These youth voiced and organized themselves around their own shared vision to build a statewide TEC retreat program (Teens Encounter Christ). In the spring they launched MN TEC #1 the weekend of April 13-15 at St. Mark's Cathedral.

Vision

To invite all youth across ECMN into beloved community with one another, and to empower them for present and future leadership through gifts discernment and spiritual formation.

Mission

We want ECMN youth to be given as much leadership as possible at each of ECMN's youth events. This involves the preplanning of these events and the onsite peer ministry.

Structure

Each faith community has the opportunity to nominate at least one young person (Grades 9-12) to the Youth Commission, which acts as a planning and decision-making body for all ECMN Youth Events in coordination with each event's adult planning teams. The Youth Commission will launch in person at the ECMN Convention and continue working via monthly video calls. Four adults who serve in lay youth ministry across ECMN will shepherd the commission in partnership with the Missioner for Children, Youth, and Camp.

Requirements

Attend the initial overnight at the ECMN Convention (Sept 14-15 at St. John’s in Mankato). Some exceptions possible with permission.

Attend more than half of the monthly video meetings from September to May.

Be an advocate for ECMN Youth Events with your peers at your local faith community.

Covenant

Know your peers by name. Learn their stories. Support the work of God’s Spirit in their lives.

Respect the seasons. Experiment, create, and fail. We are not after any concise goal. We are seeking to follow the Way of Jesus as his disciples.

Participate in the Church beyond Church. Seek to build connections between your faith community, ECMN, and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Pray and show up for one another. Pray for your fellow Youth Commission members. Participate in the ECMN youth events that you work together to plan. Pray and participate on Sunday mornings in your own faith community.

Next Steps

Each ECMN faith community can nominate at least one student in Grades 9-12 to be on the Youth Commission. Nominations are due by August 26th, 2018.